2024 Psychological Sciences Student Award Winners

Hayden Nelson
Outstanding Industrial-Organizational Psychology Concentration Graduate Student

Hayden Nelson grew up in Columbus, Nebraska and earned his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. While completing his Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at WKU, he has worked under the mentorship of Dr. Xiaowen Chen in her Big Data Lab and is completing his Master’s thesis with Dr. Reagan Brown. He currently supports the department through serving as a TA for Research Methods. While at WKU, Hayden has published undergraduate and graduate level research in top journals and has attended several national conferences. He will continue his education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for his Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology in Fall 2024.

Alyssa Swift
Outstanding Psychological Sciences Concentration Graduate Student

Alyssa Swift is from Morgantown, Kentucky and is currently completing her Master’s degree with a concentration in Psychological Sciences as a JUMP student. Alyssa has been involved as a research assistant in the Children and Families Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Diane Lickenbrock for nearly five years. Alyssa has also served as a tutor counselor for Upward Bound and was a Psi Chi Member, a Kentucky Academy of Science Ambassador, and a Mahurin Honors College student. After graduating with her Master’s degree, Alyssa will attend the Developmental Psychology Ph.D. program at The Pennsylvania State University. Alyssa’s future plans are to become a professor.

Isabelle Hobbs
Academic Achievement Award

Isabelle Hobbs graduated from WKU in Fall 2023 with an extended major in Psychological Sciences. Isabelle plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Divine Mercy University. Her future plans following graduate education include opening a counseling practice in her hometown, Elizabethtown, where she resides with her husband, Kaleb.

Lilith Chen
Academic Achievement Award

Lilith Chen (they/he) is a non-binary creative who hopes to work with transgender youth in the future using art therapy techniques. Lilith will graduate in May with a B.S. in Psychological Sciences. They grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, prior to beginning their education at WKU during the pandemic. Currently, Lilith is in Ecuador studying abroad, but will return in May 2024 for graduation prior to taking a gap year where they hope to explore graduate school opportunities and the field of art therapy.

Grace Salloum
Academic Achievement Award

Grace Salloum grew up in Sunbury, Ohio prior to obtaining her Bachelor’s degree from WKU with a double major in Psychological Sciences and Criminology, and a minor in Sociology. Grace’s future plans include getting a Ph.D. in Psychology or Neuroscience, however she is currently working as a research coordinator for the Institute of Rural Health. Grace hopes to obtain a post-baccalaureate position in order to support her future Ph.D. endeavors, where she is interested in studying the neurodevelopmental and behavioral impacts of trauma on victims of crime.

Anne Schueler
Academic Achievement Award
Outstanding Senior Award

Anne Schueler is from Bowling Green, Kentucky. She is a JUMP student currently majoring in Psychological Sciences with a minor in Clinical and Community Behavioral Health. Anne works under the mentorship of Dr. Matthew Woodward in the Stress, Trauma, and Recover Lab (STAR) and is a FUSE grant recipient. She is looking forward to continuing her education through full-time enrollment in WKU’s Master in Counseling program. In the future, Anne hopes to apply her knowledge of psychology and research in the counseling field.

Doug Brown
Outstanding Junior Award

Doug Brown grew up in Burgin, Kentucky and attended a local independent school for his K-12 education prior to attending WKU. Doug is pursuing a major in Psychological Sciences and a minor in Global Business and is hoping to study abroad in Japan in Fall 2024. He is very interested in the field of Industrial-Organizational Psychology and works under the mentorship of Dr. Katrina Burch in the Discrimination and Work-Life Lab (DAWL). In the future, Doug would like to obtain a Master’s degree in IO Psychology, with the hopes of working with multinational corporations to bridge cultural gaps among employees.

Hanna Forrest
Undergraduate Research Award

Hanna Forrest grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky where she obtained her Associate’s degree at Owensboro Community and Technical College prior to attending WKU. She is a research assistant in the Stress, Trauma, and Recovery Lab (STAR) under the mentorship of Dr. Matthew Woodward. Prior to working in the STAR lab, Hanna did not realize that she was passionate to make research her career path. She plans to continue her education and pursue a graduate degree following her Fall 2024 graduation date.

My Tran
Undergraduate Service Award

My Tran grew up in Russellville, Kentucky prior to attending WKU. She is a double major in Psychological Sciences and Biochemistry and is currently Pre-Med. She plans on attending medical school in Fall 2025, but is also excited to take a gap year and will be working with the Disney College Program during this time.